Show tt Thomas jThomas Proposes IK Voluntary Ceiling on Wages i I Urges Expansion of Strike No-Strike Plan To Include Pay Freezing Suggests Occasional Adjustments WASHINGTON April 21 Expansion UP-Expansion Expansion of labors labor's noke no- no frike ike ke agreement in an war industries to embrace a flexible ceiling ri n wages was proposed Tuesday by Chairman C airman Elbert D. D Thomas rhomas ThomasI I D D. Utah o of the senate enate labor committee I Thomas who often expresses administration views said h he thought a voluntary stabilization of of f wages on Oil an equitable basis basi do much toward quieting pe tie the current congressional wran iran fling g ing over the hour 40 week am and overtime pay if The committee chairman told reporters reporters- he believed a plan could couk be worked out to peg wages generally generally generally gen- gen at present levels with adjustments ad ad- provided for pay low groups or individuals He groups suggested suggested suggested sug sug- that a general board then ther could review war industry wages bout about every eight months and order order order or or- der increases to compensate for any advance in living costs ro To Discuss Problem I president Roosevelt has let it be known that he will discuss the whole hole problem of the cost of living liv liv- ing g in a message to congress to tobe tobe be followed by a radio talk on the subject next Monday night Congressional I leaders expecting no specific recommendations for sew new legislation said they thought the president now had sufficient authority to order a general freezIng freezing freez- freez ing of prices as a brake against inflation ion While Mr Roosevelt has said the question of wage controls controls controls con- con also was under study few expected any drastic proposals along this line If f c It was indicated a major part J of the presidents president's message would be devoted to the elimination of excessive war profits probably th through ough taxation and to the limitation limitation limi- limi tation of management salaries and b bonuses TO rut lilt All Phases Senator Connally D D. Texas told the senate Monday in obtain- obtain ng ig g consent to delay argument until April 28 on his war plant seizure seizure seiz- seiz ure tire bill that the president had given assurances the forthcoming message would deal with all phases of the living cost problem including log ing ag labor II Expressing the hope that Mr Roosevelt would advocate a program pro- pro gram grain of over-all over control of price wages salaries and bonuses Senator Sena- Sena tor or Claude Pepper D D. D Fla sena-I sena said anything short of that was not notI i I likely to satisfy those who have been demanding wartime restrictions restrictions restrictions on union activities Were We're not going to forget about the hour 48 week at regular pay lor or the question of eliminating racketeering union initiation fees ees Pepper declared Neither are we going to permit management management management manage manage- ment to to- pay huge salaries and bonuses to executives or stand by idly dIy while excessive profits are made out of government con- con tracts Plans lans Pay Ceiling Pepper WhO wio previously proposed extension ot of the hour 40 week to 48 4 hours said he had prepared an amendment putting a ceiling of on the salaries of executives executives tives of companies handling war Contracts Meanwhile Senator Harry Flood Byrd D D. Va Vai cited the govern- govern Cents Cent's m bents bent's nt's action in taking over operation oper oper- abon of three plants of the Brewster Brewster Brewster Brew- Brew ster Aeronautical corporation Monday as indicative of a condi- condi condition condition tion which he said ought to be corrected by drastic legislation Byrd previously had made puba public pub- pub lic 10 a navy department report Ch said the Brewster plant at Long ng Island City N N. Y was operating operating operating oper oper- at only 40 per cent capacity b Because ca se labor leaders there were forcing for ing slowdowns The report which complained of inefficient management charged that in several several sev- sev eral wal sections of the plant many including foremen were nemy enemy aliens Byrd said he since had received several letters concerning the emPloyment emPloyment employment em em- of aliens in the plant which he had turned over to the federal bureau of investigation The fhe two other plants taken over overl are at Newark N N. J J. J and JohnsVille Johnse Johns- Johns Ville l e Pa I |